Brexit backing traders BANISHED from market for using Vote Leave placard as windbreak

BREXIT supporters have been banished from a market they have been trading at for more than 20 years after they defended their right of free speech by refusing to take down a Vote Leave placard they were using as a windbreak.

Brexit supporters had to leave their market stall as they refused to get rid of a Vote Leave poster

Graham and Margaret Harper were furious when they were told by the market manager in Oswestry, Shropshire, that they had to remove their poster because it was “political”.

The Harpers, who have been selling plants and vegetables for decades, took their incredulity to the town hall - but didn’t receive the help they hoped for.

Local councillors held a closed door meeting and ruled the couple had to remove the Vote Leave sign or leave the Oswestry Market.

The town council clerk said in a letter to the Harpers that the sign breached the policy that “no political publicity be displayed on any market stalls as this would be considered a breach of licence conditions.”

Mr Harper, 78, and his wife, 76, believe the move was an attack on free speech and took their business away.

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You would think the council would be more concerned about keeping traders than getting rid of them.

Graham Harper

Mr Harper said: “It is a matter of principle.

“It is a shame, because we have got to know a lot of very nice people over the years and have a lot of loyal customers there.”

Speaking about the Vote Leave sign, which never bothered any of his customers as no one ever complained about it, he added: “It’s not even political, it is not supporting a political party and it is not about an election, it was a referendum.”

The Harpers got the poster ahead of the June 2016 referendum and kept it at home until the Brexit victory.

Later, they decided “it would make a good windbreak” and instead of getting rid of it they brought it to the market stall.

TWITTER

People took to Twitter to protest against the ban

Mr Harper said: “It is side on, so it is not even in people's faces.

“Most of our customers are older, and generally support Brexit, but even those who didn't said we should have been allowed to keep it up.

“I thought it would be a talking point.

“You would think the council would be more concerned about keeping traders than getting rid of them.”

The trader understood that the council intervened in his issue after two Green councillors objected.

People took their disbelief to Twitter.

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The entrance to the market in Oswestry

Eileen Limbrey wrote: “Such a shame that the elderly couple selling plants and veg seedlings are no longer on Oswestry market”

And Twitter user Geoffrey Myers wrote: “#SPITE a couple who have run a market stall in #Oswestry for 20 yr have had to give up stall after 2 x Green Councillors complained about a #voteleave Poster. #Oswestrycouncil ruled it in breach of no politics rule #Greenspite”

The market manager said he could not comment on the issue.

Town Clerk David Preston said: “Mr Harper is a longstanding trader but the council has a policy of not using stalls for political purposes or expressing political views. It was a sign that received some complaints. We asked him to remove it.

“He appealed and again the matter was taken to the council and the council agreed it would enforce its policy and asked Mr Harper to take down the sign. Mr Harper decided he would no longer come to the market.

“He is a valued trader, we would like him to return and he would be welcome but obviously he must comply with the council's rules and policies.”

Express.co.uk has contacted Oswestry city council for further comments.